Monday, March 30, 2020
Saturday, March 7, 2020
RADICALAGENDA GAINS WIDER ECHO AS OGUNLANA SPEAKS AT NBA OSOGBO MARCH MEETING, MEETS LAWYERS AT ILESA
 |
| Ogunlana at NBA Osogbo Branch meeting |
 |
| Adesina Ogunlana |
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media and Publicity of RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana's speech reinforcing his RadicalAgenda and promise to lead the Nigerian Bar Association to struggle against impunity.
Commentator after commentator on his inspiring speech restated his antecedents as Publisher of the holds-no-barred anti-judicial corruption magazine, Squib and the battles fought by lawyers under his leadership of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association .
In a related development, Mr. Ogunlana met with lawyers, who are members of the Ilesa Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and Chairman of Ilesa Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Femi Fafowora.
The RadicalAgenda message waxes stronger as the race to the presidential elections heat up
 |
| Dosu Babatunde, Seun Ajoba, Ogunlana, Jungle Sokoya, Ayo Ademiluyi @Ilesa High Court |
A member of the Osogbo Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association making an enthusiastic speech about the antecedents of Mr. Ogunlana as Publisher of the anti-judicial corruption. Magazine, Squib.
Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary, RAMINBA, Mr. Ogunlana and Mr. Abraham Imeosili, RAMINBA member in Osogbo, Osun State capital
Mr. Dosu Babatunde, Mr. Seun Ajoba, both former Chairmen of NBA Ilesa, Mr. Ogunlana, Mr. Jungle Sookoya and Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary, RAMINBA at High Court, Ilesa
OGUNLANA, RAMINBA GRACE NBA BADAGRY BRANCH IN RADICAL STYLE
Ogunlana Adesina Ademola, Chairman of the Radical
Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and presidential aspirant in
the forthcoming 2020 national elections of the
Nigerian Bar
Association graced the March 2020 Monthly Branch Meeting on
Monday, 2nd March, 2020.
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media and Strategy of #RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall and narrated thus:
"The RADICAL AGENDA MOVEMENT IN THE NBA (RAMINBA) train landed to an exceptionally warm reception at the NBA Badagry BRANCH yesterday ,3/3/2020. Interestingly we arrived the meeting of the HERITAGE BRANCH at less than half the nick of time ......she was closing with the closing prayer when we stepped in .
Grace stepped in with us as we found favour with the leadership of the Branch to call the already concluded meeting to order for us to have community interaction with this very important Branch .
Our delivery , more Demosthenesian than Ciceroan caught fire with the audience who without prodding exploded into an outburst of Solidarity renditiion at the end of our speech . The highlights of our communication include the sayings:
' Gentlemen , Yoruba people say that if you have being applying wisdom to solve a problem,and it is not working , apply a little madness .I am that little madness . Yoruba people also say it is because of the 'bad child' outside , you have the 'bad child' inside . Iam that bad child inside ...'
And the Heritagers welcome the now well known 50-50 RAMINBA proposition with so much joy.
Several meetings after meetings after meetings happened thereafter , while the final one ended at a waterfront resort where we were entertained to a meal of Appran and Obokun fish stew and ewedu . I was the butt of jokes for inability to complete the downing of a single bottle of lager !
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL TIME TOGETHER , DEAR HERITAGERS"
The #RadicalAgenda continues to wax stronger and stronger by every dawning day
 |
| Addressing NBA Badagry March 2020 Branch Meeting |
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media and Strategy of #RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall and narrated thus:
 |
| Ogunlana with other members |
"The RADICAL AGENDA MOVEMENT IN THE NBA (RAMINBA) train landed to an exceptionally warm reception at the NBA Badagry BRANCH yesterday ,3/3/2020. Interestingly we arrived the meeting of the HERITAGE BRANCH at less than half the nick of time ......she was closing with the closing prayer when we stepped in .
Grace stepped in with us as we found favour with the leadership of the Branch to call the already concluded meeting to order for us to have community interaction with this very important Branch .
Our delivery , more Demosthenesian than Ciceroan caught fire with the audience who without prodding exploded into an outburst of Solidarity renditiion at the end of our speech . The highlights of our communication include the sayings:
' Gentlemen , Yoruba people say that if you have being applying wisdom to solve a problem,and it is not working , apply a little madness .I am that little madness . Yoruba people also say it is because of the 'bad child' outside , you have the 'bad child' inside . Iam that bad child inside ...'
 |
| Ogunlana wth members of NBA Badagry Branch |
And the Heritagers welcome the now well known 50-50 RAMINBA proposition with so much joy.
Several meetings after meetings after meetings happened thereafter , while the final one ended at a waterfront resort where we were entertained to a meal of Appran and Obokun fish stew and ewedu . I was the butt of jokes for inability to complete the downing of a single bottle of lager !
 |
| Ogunlana with Chigbu Okafor, Chair, NBA Badagry |
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL TIME TOGETHER , DEAR HERITAGERS"
The #RadicalAgenda continues to wax stronger and stronger by every dawning day
OGUNLANA IN ABUJA FOR RAMINBA EXPLORATORY MEETING
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of #RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall to narrate his trip with a post entitled
"THERE IS HOPE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR OUR PROFESSION ......AN APPRECIATION TO THE YOUNG BLOOD OF RADICAL AGENDA MOVEMENT IN THE NBA (RAMINBA .)".
Mr. Ogunlana reported that the meeting was a great success and extolled the organiser , who was a much younger colleague he had known and worked with in his days at the Tiger Bar .
He
extolled the radical young lawyers that inspired the #RadicalAgenda in the first place and have been its driving force.
He posted
"(The).... young , ardent believers ...(of the #RadicalAgenda) continued with their urgings , proddings more like and here we are today. They believe , and rightly so that ' old things should pass away 'in the NBA and that I represent the best possible chance of getting the badly needed change in our Association .
None of these my 'kid' god fathers were induced in any way to act this way , rather they are the inducers ! For silver , gold , cash and gifts , I have none to give. Only to God be the glory ! Success is ours !
Thank you all my dear younger ones for your kindness , respect , encouragement and very critical support . Let me assure you once again - WE GO FOR IT TOGETHER , WE GET IT TOGETHER AND WE RUN IT TOGETHER ! It is our joint project."
RE: RAMINBA'S CALL FOR RESIGNATION OF CHIEF WOLE OLANIPEKUN SAN FROM NBA BOT
The Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association on Thursday,
27th February, 2020 issued two separate releases calling for the resignation of
Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN from the Trusteeship of the Nigerian Bar Association
. The call was unneccessary as the learned silk is not a member, presently, of
the elite corps (BOARD OF TRUSTEES) . It is a mistake , regrettable one
at that and the Radical Agenda Movement In the Nigerian Bar
Association TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
It amounts to infamy for the counsel involved who are both long time silks to bring up such application for review of the judgement of the apex court in the Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election Dispute .The Court accused both of them of taking action calculated to descreate the court , a very serious charge indeed in our view .
All those who have criticised us for demanding that Olanipekun resigns from a body he does not belong to , are in order . Those who are abusing on the same score are also in order . We welcome their scurrilious language, their guttersnipe , those are the hall marks of their self vaunted learning and scholarship . We congratulate them .We are used to the vitriols of those who for all shades of bigotry and self- capture, deify fallible mortals and turn them to infallible tin gods and are very uncomfortable when their gods are reproached, no matter how justifiable .
We here at RAMINBA are not inclined to be crowd- swayed but to do our utmost to stand by our considered convictions and the Truth as we sincerely see it .....EVEN IF WE ARE STANDING ALONE .
Thank You.
OGUNLANA ADESINA ADEMOLA ESQ.
Chairman
AYODELE ADEMILUYI ESQ.
Secretary
It amounts to infamy for the counsel involved who are both long time silks to bring up such application for review of the judgement of the apex court in the Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election Dispute .The Court accused both of them of taking action calculated to descreate the court , a very serious charge indeed in our view .
All those who have criticised us for demanding that Olanipekun resigns from a body he does not belong to , are in order . Those who are abusing on the same score are also in order . We welcome their scurrilious language, their guttersnipe , those are the hall marks of their self vaunted learning and scholarship . We congratulate them .We are used to the vitriols of those who for all shades of bigotry and self- capture, deify fallible mortals and turn them to infallible tin gods and are very uncomfortable when their gods are reproached, no matter how justifiable .
We here at RAMINBA are not inclined to be crowd- swayed but to do our utmost to stand by our considered convictions and the Truth as we sincerely see it .....EVEN IF WE ARE STANDING ALONE .
Thank You.
OGUNLANA ADESINA ADEMOLA ESQ.
Chairman
AYODELE ADEMILUYI ESQ.
Secretary
OGUNLANA, RAMINBA'S EXPOSITORY MESSAGE TO ALL NIGERIAN LAWYERS (1)
Ogunlana Adesina Ademola, the Chairman of the
Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and presidential
aspirant in the forthcoming 2020 national elections of the Nigerian Bar
Association has taken to his Facebook wall to write series of expository
messages to the members of the Nigerian Bar Association.
This was revealed in a statement issued by Ayo
Ademiluyi, Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of #RadicalBar2020.
Mr. Ogunlana commented on his Facebook wall thus:
"HOW TRULY LEARNED ARE WE?
One fond ,popular belief of legal practitioners at least in Nigeria is their class superiority . We proudly assert our profession as ' NOBLE' and say no other set of persons, no matter their education or discipline are LEARNED . We describe our offices as ' CHAMBERS', the courts as ' TEMPLES, the logo of our job is a ' GODDESS', our part of the court room is named the BAR , the part for the Judges is the 'BENCH and the judges are reverred as LORDS. Instances of the distinctions attached to the legal profession are many jndeed . Not only do we commonly consider ourselves as top breed of class , character and knowledge , we expect , even demand of nonlawyers to see us as such and give us due regard accordingly .
However , one sometimes wonders whether our professional class claim to elevated pedigree and cerebral distinction are not in the main self flattery and deceit ? By our values, conduct , speeches and reflections are we really any much better and greater than the common run of the society?. For example just consider how we approach ELECTIONS in the association of lawyers
Most of those contesting for high offices behave very much like 'outside' politicians, promising and promoting to the electorate what they have no time , capacity, commitment to deliver . Essentially these characters TELL and SELL , fat , round , humungous LIES to the electorate to gain the positiobs of their covet . I cant see what is consistent with claims of NOBILITY , HONOR , DECENCY in that sort of behaviour on the part of DISTINGUISHED members of the NOBLE profession, or can you ?
Now it is one thing to tell a lie deliberately with intention to deceive and mislead another person , it is another for the scheme to jell. For a fact , it is difficult to take in a learned person and lead such by the nose , but the history of elections in the association of noble and learned persons in Nigeria at least since 1998 is that the electorate therein even though very learned , deeply knowlegeable and oracularly persicacious, as always pathologically claimed ,are REGULARLY, ,, SERIALLY , EASILY , PREDICTABLY , THOROUGHLY fooled by lying candidates . In fact the more fantatic the spins , yarns , fables etc , the more prostrate the LEARNED ELECTORATE fall 'yakata' for the the fib flingers .
You may wish to enquire into the ways and means by ths which the learned SMART ALECS snag the LEARNED GULLIBLES .
Interestingly , the stratagem is neither arcane not complicated , but rather simple basic and even down right primitive ! History has it that many African Monarchs in the 18th and 19th centuries gave away their lands and sold their peoples to slavery to European merchants and empire builders in exchange for tawdry gifts like beads , gin, mirrors etc . A similar despoilation promoted by crass , myopic and shameful greed and self shortchanging apetitiveness afflicts the NBA biennially .
Candidates fling ' bananas ' as it were at the electorate as if they were but monkeys and the learned monkeys rush at the bananas and and make banana givers their leaders who now lead them to blind alleys of little or no performance
The 'bananas' here are the emergency gifts of cash , meals, hotel accomodation , souvenirs , donations to Branches , Sections, Lawyers Fora , lawyers wears and texts as well as gracing of several programmes and events , meaningful and meaningless ones, throwing of parties , holding of hang outs and sit ins . These are the sort of things that have been influencing our learned electorate , year in , year out, in their choice of leaders.Clearly that is a solidly unwise way of choosing leaders and so little wonder for the perennial disappontment at the end of the day with the performance of leaders chosen by that method .
Learned gentlemen of the noble profession for how long shall we continue to allow ourselves to be used and ultimately shortchanged ? Look at our direction, at least this once , the direction of the RADICAL AGENDA , the AGENDA that is not deceiving, misleading and seducing you with '"ephemeralities' and dubious , spurious gifts Try us, taste us and see the goodness of the Lord !"
This was revealed in a statement issued by Ayo
Ademiluyi, Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of #RadicalBar2020.
Mr. Ogunlana commented on his Facebook wall thus:
"HOW TRULY LEARNED ARE WE?
One fond ,popular belief of legal practitioners at least in Nigeria is their class superiority . We proudly assert our profession as ' NOBLE' and say no other set of persons, no matter their education or discipline are LEARNED . We describe our offices as ' CHAMBERS', the courts as ' TEMPLES, the logo of our job is a ' GODDESS', our part of the court room is named the BAR , the part for the Judges is the 'BENCH and the judges are reverred as LORDS. Instances of the distinctions attached to the legal profession are many jndeed . Not only do we commonly consider ourselves as top breed of class , character and knowledge , we expect , even demand of nonlawyers to see us as such and give us due regard accordingly .
However , one sometimes wonders whether our professional class claim to elevated pedigree and cerebral distinction are not in the main self flattery and deceit ? By our values, conduct , speeches and reflections are we really any much better and greater than the common run of the society?. For example just consider how we approach ELECTIONS in the association of lawyers
Most of those contesting for high offices behave very much like 'outside' politicians, promising and promoting to the electorate what they have no time , capacity, commitment to deliver . Essentially these characters TELL and SELL , fat , round , humungous LIES to the electorate to gain the positiobs of their covet . I cant see what is consistent with claims of NOBILITY , HONOR , DECENCY in that sort of behaviour on the part of DISTINGUISHED members of the NOBLE profession, or can you ?
Now it is one thing to tell a lie deliberately with intention to deceive and mislead another person , it is another for the scheme to jell. For a fact , it is difficult to take in a learned person and lead such by the nose , but the history of elections in the association of noble and learned persons in Nigeria at least since 1998 is that the electorate therein even though very learned , deeply knowlegeable and oracularly persicacious, as always pathologically claimed ,are REGULARLY, ,, SERIALLY , EASILY , PREDICTABLY , THOROUGHLY fooled by lying candidates . In fact the more fantatic the spins , yarns , fables etc , the more prostrate the LEARNED ELECTORATE fall 'yakata' for the the fib flingers .
You may wish to enquire into the ways and means by ths which the learned SMART ALECS snag the LEARNED GULLIBLES .
Interestingly , the stratagem is neither arcane not complicated , but rather simple basic and even down right primitive ! History has it that many African Monarchs in the 18th and 19th centuries gave away their lands and sold their peoples to slavery to European merchants and empire builders in exchange for tawdry gifts like beads , gin, mirrors etc . A similar despoilation promoted by crass , myopic and shameful greed and self shortchanging apetitiveness afflicts the NBA biennially .
Candidates fling ' bananas ' as it were at the electorate as if they were but monkeys and the learned monkeys rush at the bananas and and make banana givers their leaders who now lead them to blind alleys of little or no performance
The 'bananas' here are the emergency gifts of cash , meals, hotel accomodation , souvenirs , donations to Branches , Sections, Lawyers Fora , lawyers wears and texts as well as gracing of several programmes and events , meaningful and meaningless ones, throwing of parties , holding of hang outs and sit ins . These are the sort of things that have been influencing our learned electorate , year in , year out, in their choice of leaders.Clearly that is a solidly unwise way of choosing leaders and so little wonder for the perennial disappontment at the end of the day with the performance of leaders chosen by that method .
Learned gentlemen of the noble profession for how long shall we continue to allow ourselves to be used and ultimately shortchanged ? Look at our direction, at least this once , the direction of the RADICAL AGENDA , the AGENDA that is not deceiving, misleading and seducing you with '"ephemeralities' and dubious , spurious gifts Try us, taste us and see the goodness of the Lord !"
OGUNLANA WELCOMES RELEASE OF AGBA JALINGO, WANTS TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AGAINST PROFESSOR MAURICE FANGNON DROPPED
Ogunlana Adesina Ademola , the Chairman of the
Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and presidential
aspirant in the forthcoming 2020 national elections of the Nigerian Bar
Association has welcomed the release of Agba Jalingo from the Calabar
Correctional Centre.
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of #RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana viewed the release as a product of relentless struggle.
In a related development, Mr. Ogunlana demands the trumped-up charges filed by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , Panti, Yaba against Professor Maurice Fangnon be withdrawn immediately.
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of #RadicalBar2020, Mr. Ogunlana viewed the release as a product of relentless struggle.
In a related development, Mr. Ogunlana demands the trumped-up charges filed by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , Panti, Yaba against Professor Maurice Fangnon be withdrawn immediately.
RAMINBA REPLIES STEVE ABAR ON OGUNLANA 'S TRIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATION
The Radical Agenda Movement in the
Nigerian Bar Association (RAMINBA) has replied to a post made by Steve
Abar, former 2nd and 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar
Association on the ongoing trial of the presidential aspirant running on its
platform, Mr. Ogunlana Adesina Ademola by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission. I
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association, the organisation would ordinarily restrain from making commentary on the ongoing trial based on the sub judice principle, but it has found it important based on the issues raised in the said Steve Abar's post to comment on the political implicationss thereof as the NBA presidential race heats up.
On 12th day of February, 2020, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall , where he posted thus:
"OUR FRIENDS IN POLITICS
In the course of my trajectory towards the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association , one of the more amusing mounds of mud thrown at me is the issue of my EFCC case .Many of the mud throwers throw their mud as if they were the proverbial 'carpenters' of Nigerian legal folk lore .
As far as these legal juggernauts are concerned , going by their stance, arraignment and trial are tantamount to CONVICTION. Thus as far as these brilliant legal minds are concerned , I am not a fit and proper person to aspire to any position in the NBA, at least for now one of our denouncers , Steve Abar, Esq., former 2nd and 1st Vice NBA President, who rightly claimed that he had stood chest to chest with the Tigers in struggles afore, (though did not mention any one instance when he was ever a 'struggle mate' with his Ikeja based preferred candidate ) asserted in a response to a post that ' his(Ogunlana)'s EFCC case will weigh him down ' .
The question is how would arraignment and trial have such effect on any unprejudiced truly trained and astute minds schooled in the elevated pedagogies of the presumption of innocence doctrines . Shouldn't even the benefit of the doubt be made to weigh more in favour of the accused in the minds of the scruplously fair minded legal mind particularly where such a mind is far off from the vortex of political conflict and clash of interests leading to judicial trial . You would have thought that a quality fellow trencher would not quickly toss away belief for unbelief , search diligently for the truth of accusations before arriving at a negative conclusion .
Another well known non fancier is also, interestingly, named STEVE ;Steve Uchenna Nwankwo Esq who rejoices in the cadescence of a luminous sobriquet of STEVE SUN . That worthy had noted fillipantly somewhere recently whilst trying to englitter the plumage of his preferred candidate that ' we dont even know how his EFCC case would end ' To us this is nothing but a clever by half , sly dammnation of our aspiration which cannot slow us down . .
Attacks, fair and unfair are common fare in politics , fortunately we here have a stomach of iron that not only digests poisoned meals and rubbish easily without side effects but get nourished spectacularly thereby . Alleged FRIENDS who even without balanced investigations, private engagements and interactions with a mind to finding out the truth as much as possible even with all opportunities of access but find it all too easy to join one's HATERS to nail one on the cross of unproved accusations, are FRIENDS indeed .
May God continue to bless such wonderful friends and reward them with exciting propects of being around in the days of joyous vindication .Such need not roil in mortification when doxologies are rendered unto the Almighty for his great Deliverance , for they shall surely be invited to the theatre of Rejoice !
NB .....this piece was written to mark this day, 12th February 2020 , exactly a year now that the EFCC came to arrest me in my chambers . When this happened local and in house traducers thought it was finished with us and boasted and assured willing ears that I shall end up in jail within months . Their main angst against me is my guts and confidence which they find so galling . We sullied the bullies by refusing to bend like robots to their wishes and tingodism at the NBA IKEJA BAR . They are still galled up because despite their arrows , bullets, blows , yours sincerely , instead of wilting and cringing has become ever so resurgent and reflugent . To whom do we ascribe all this to ? God, God , God . The fish in the picture (attached to the post) was a victim of celebration in the afternoon .I carried its still substantial remains off the battle field , to be seen off in chambers with a chilled lager You understand now ? Bless you my friends and my FRIENDS"
Mr. Steve Abar responded on the thread thus:
"Ademola Ogunlana Adesina , you may find your criminal trial amusing, but regrettably, I do not share your sentiment as I find nothing amusing in a President of the NBA being subjected to the dock on ALLEGATIONS of corruption especially when the trial precedes the aspiration and or eventual assumption of the office. My opinion with the greatest respect, is without prejudice to the presumption of your innocence or even the eventual outcome of the trial you are facing. I must also confess that in holding this view, I do not advert my mind to the quality of the facts alleged in the criminal charge against you and whether they will succeed or otherwise. I am simply deeply worried about the negative public perception of the Association nay the entire legal profession which will be engendered by the prospect of having a second consecutive President of the NBA also being docked, as if the Association is suffering from a dearth of options from which to pick its leadership. This view of your situation which I hold is consistent with the tenacious position I held against Paul Usoro's aspiration during his quest for the presidency of the NBA even though at the material time, the issue of his arraignment was still speculative. Should you be in doubt, you may check my posts both on my wall and on other relevant threads at the material time. I am therefore not in a hurry to do a volte-face simply because this time around you are the person involved and also notwithstanding your irrefutable radical credentials.
My compatriot (I still consider you one), I can bear eloquent testimony to the many instances you and others of the Tiger Branch demonstrated grit and commitment to the cause of the NBA and lawyers. Nevertheless, we are here dealing with a situation where I believe that you are offering yourself for SERVICE to the Bar and NOT TO BE SERVED. If that be the case as I hope it is, the honourable thing for you particularly (given your hitherto known selfless disposition) to do in the overriding general interest and image of the NBA is to temporarily put aside your personal ambition, confront the trial against you and allow its outcome to vindicate you. Thereafter, should the outcome be favourable, you could in the future offer yourself for service again whilst standing on a higher moral pedestal. This is what obtains in civilised climes where the principle of presumption of innocence also enures in favour of accused persons who are in some instances even incumbents. I believe, that you my honourable friend will demonstrate this rare quality that is grossly deficient in our society today by pointing the way to go if we must attain the model future we genuinely desire both for our dear NBA and our Nation Nigeria, not because I PREJUDGE your trial, but because I consider it a greater sacrifice for the general good and image of the NBA.
My friend, an integral attribute of leadership is the the ability to elevate and place the general good over and above personal interest or desire. I am calling on you today to carefully reconsider your decision to run at this inopportune time, particularly so since any of your other gentlemen co - aspirants have made the decision easier for you given their widely acknowledged capabilities.
Finally, I had craved an opportunity for us to have this discourse privately and therefore sincerely regret my slip in bringing it up in response to somebody else's query on another thread which subsequently caught your attention and now elicited your elaborate post. Permit me to state that I do not by any stretch of imagination consider you unfit or not proper to contest for the presidency of the NBA by reason of your on going trial. I am also not your hater. My position is the product of my long held and publicly expressed belief which has found fulfilment in the manifestation of a seemingly gagged NBA under Paul Usoro. I wish you could see it as that and nothing more.
Thank you and kindly ignore the incomplete response I earlier inadvertently posted here and substitute it with this one"
The questions for Mr. Steve Abar are numerous but some are:
1. On what grounds did Mr. Steve Abar advise Mr. Paul Usoro SAN not to run, when he had no criminal matter agaisnt him , prior to his electoral victory at the 2018 polls?
2. Why is he recommending to Mr. Ogunlana to shelve his presidential ambition because of his ongoing trial, his undisclosed grounds of advice with which he advised Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, when he had no criminal matter ?
3. What is the basis of equality of capabilities ascribed to all the candidates to warrant Mr. Ogunlana to withdraw from the NBA presidential race?
It is clear as noonday that Mr. Steve Abar' s response is blurry and an attempt to drive emotions up against the presidential aspiration of Mr. Ogunlana. While on one hand , deferring to the doctrine of presumption of innocence , Mr. Abar wants Mr. Ogunlana to halt his presidential aspiration due to his ongoing trial.
Mr. Abar' s school of thought is that elective offices such as the Office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association is a deified office that should not be aspired to by individuals , who are facing any form of trial, inspite of the presumption of innocence against them.
Mr. Abar's conclusion that the ongoing trial of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN led to the current gagged NBA leadership is not only presumptuous but amounts to begging the question. If we may ask, what background does Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, the current NBA President have that now got "gagged" when he entered office! The reality is that , with respect to Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, he is simply not an activist! Even at that, the pinnacle of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN' s anti- government action was the declaration of a national boycott, where were persons such as Mr. Steve Abar at that time?
Now to Mr. Steve Abar's assertion that all the four presidential have "equal capabilities " , let us examine the subject matter critically. Mr. Steve Abar's reference of standing shoulders to shoulders with Ikeja Branch, the Tiger Bar, during their innumerous struggles, does this include the involvement of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN? It is on record that the same Dele Adesina SAN , as Chairman of Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (1998-2000) diswoned his members who were protesting the sale of the Nigerian Law School?
Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN and Mr. Olumide Akpata , both transactional lawyers has never been known for activism and critical social interventions. They can't even pretend to be so! Where then is the equality of capacities among the four?
These are men who have used their skills to make personal fortunes for themselves and are now eyeing top positions in the Nigerian Bar Association in order to project their image for higher aspirations.
The four presidential aspirants are all Lagos-based lawyers, of both Ikeja and Lagos Branches , the two largest Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association. In 2018, when the then Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State sought to impose an horrendous Lagos State Land Use Charge of 500 percent increment, the reaction of the four aspirants were not the same. While the other three sat on the fence, Ogunlana leading the NBA IKeja , without the support of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN, successfully resisted the imposition of the taxes.
Equally, when the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Opeyemi Oke came up with the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018 with its horrendous filing fees and punitive costs, what is the attitude or reaction of these aspirants to that extortionate scheme of the Chief Judge? While three kept quiet, one spoke against it publicly, carried out demonstrations against it via the Citizens' Rally Against Oppression and eventually sought judicial intervention on it? Who is that? Ogunlana Adesina Ademola. Again, what basis is the equality of capabilities?
The reality is that with the grand onslaught on democratic rights under the current regime, the leadership that is required is a fighting leadership. Mr. Steve Abar's wish of not having a " gagged" leadership can only be fully realised if Mr. Ogunlana is entrusted with the prime leadership of the Bar.
In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association, the organisation would ordinarily restrain from making commentary on the ongoing trial based on the sub judice principle, but it has found it important based on the issues raised in the said Steve Abar's post to comment on the political implicationss thereof as the NBA presidential race heats up.
On 12th day of February, 2020, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall , where he posted thus:
"OUR FRIENDS IN POLITICS
In the course of my trajectory towards the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association , one of the more amusing mounds of mud thrown at me is the issue of my EFCC case .Many of the mud throwers throw their mud as if they were the proverbial 'carpenters' of Nigerian legal folk lore .
As far as these legal juggernauts are concerned , going by their stance, arraignment and trial are tantamount to CONVICTION. Thus as far as these brilliant legal minds are concerned , I am not a fit and proper person to aspire to any position in the NBA, at least for now one of our denouncers , Steve Abar, Esq., former 2nd and 1st Vice NBA President, who rightly claimed that he had stood chest to chest with the Tigers in struggles afore, (though did not mention any one instance when he was ever a 'struggle mate' with his Ikeja based preferred candidate ) asserted in a response to a post that ' his(Ogunlana)'s EFCC case will weigh him down ' .
The question is how would arraignment and trial have such effect on any unprejudiced truly trained and astute minds schooled in the elevated pedagogies of the presumption of innocence doctrines . Shouldn't even the benefit of the doubt be made to weigh more in favour of the accused in the minds of the scruplously fair minded legal mind particularly where such a mind is far off from the vortex of political conflict and clash of interests leading to judicial trial . You would have thought that a quality fellow trencher would not quickly toss away belief for unbelief , search diligently for the truth of accusations before arriving at a negative conclusion .
Another well known non fancier is also, interestingly, named STEVE ;Steve Uchenna Nwankwo Esq who rejoices in the cadescence of a luminous sobriquet of STEVE SUN . That worthy had noted fillipantly somewhere recently whilst trying to englitter the plumage of his preferred candidate that ' we dont even know how his EFCC case would end ' To us this is nothing but a clever by half , sly dammnation of our aspiration which cannot slow us down . .
Attacks, fair and unfair are common fare in politics , fortunately we here have a stomach of iron that not only digests poisoned meals and rubbish easily without side effects but get nourished spectacularly thereby . Alleged FRIENDS who even without balanced investigations, private engagements and interactions with a mind to finding out the truth as much as possible even with all opportunities of access but find it all too easy to join one's HATERS to nail one on the cross of unproved accusations, are FRIENDS indeed .
May God continue to bless such wonderful friends and reward them with exciting propects of being around in the days of joyous vindication .Such need not roil in mortification when doxologies are rendered unto the Almighty for his great Deliverance , for they shall surely be invited to the theatre of Rejoice !
NB .....this piece was written to mark this day, 12th February 2020 , exactly a year now that the EFCC came to arrest me in my chambers . When this happened local and in house traducers thought it was finished with us and boasted and assured willing ears that I shall end up in jail within months . Their main angst against me is my guts and confidence which they find so galling . We sullied the bullies by refusing to bend like robots to their wishes and tingodism at the NBA IKEJA BAR . They are still galled up because despite their arrows , bullets, blows , yours sincerely , instead of wilting and cringing has become ever so resurgent and reflugent . To whom do we ascribe all this to ? God, God , God . The fish in the picture (attached to the post) was a victim of celebration in the afternoon .I carried its still substantial remains off the battle field , to be seen off in chambers with a chilled lager You understand now ? Bless you my friends and my FRIENDS"
Mr. Steve Abar responded on the thread thus:
"Ademola Ogunlana Adesina , you may find your criminal trial amusing, but regrettably, I do not share your sentiment as I find nothing amusing in a President of the NBA being subjected to the dock on ALLEGATIONS of corruption especially when the trial precedes the aspiration and or eventual assumption of the office. My opinion with the greatest respect, is without prejudice to the presumption of your innocence or even the eventual outcome of the trial you are facing. I must also confess that in holding this view, I do not advert my mind to the quality of the facts alleged in the criminal charge against you and whether they will succeed or otherwise. I am simply deeply worried about the negative public perception of the Association nay the entire legal profession which will be engendered by the prospect of having a second consecutive President of the NBA also being docked, as if the Association is suffering from a dearth of options from which to pick its leadership. This view of your situation which I hold is consistent with the tenacious position I held against Paul Usoro's aspiration during his quest for the presidency of the NBA even though at the material time, the issue of his arraignment was still speculative. Should you be in doubt, you may check my posts both on my wall and on other relevant threads at the material time. I am therefore not in a hurry to do a volte-face simply because this time around you are the person involved and also notwithstanding your irrefutable radical credentials.
My compatriot (I still consider you one), I can bear eloquent testimony to the many instances you and others of the Tiger Branch demonstrated grit and commitment to the cause of the NBA and lawyers. Nevertheless, we are here dealing with a situation where I believe that you are offering yourself for SERVICE to the Bar and NOT TO BE SERVED. If that be the case as I hope it is, the honourable thing for you particularly (given your hitherto known selfless disposition) to do in the overriding general interest and image of the NBA is to temporarily put aside your personal ambition, confront the trial against you and allow its outcome to vindicate you. Thereafter, should the outcome be favourable, you could in the future offer yourself for service again whilst standing on a higher moral pedestal. This is what obtains in civilised climes where the principle of presumption of innocence also enures in favour of accused persons who are in some instances even incumbents. I believe, that you my honourable friend will demonstrate this rare quality that is grossly deficient in our society today by pointing the way to go if we must attain the model future we genuinely desire both for our dear NBA and our Nation Nigeria, not because I PREJUDGE your trial, but because I consider it a greater sacrifice for the general good and image of the NBA.
My friend, an integral attribute of leadership is the the ability to elevate and place the general good over and above personal interest or desire. I am calling on you today to carefully reconsider your decision to run at this inopportune time, particularly so since any of your other gentlemen co - aspirants have made the decision easier for you given their widely acknowledged capabilities.
Finally, I had craved an opportunity for us to have this discourse privately and therefore sincerely regret my slip in bringing it up in response to somebody else's query on another thread which subsequently caught your attention and now elicited your elaborate post. Permit me to state that I do not by any stretch of imagination consider you unfit or not proper to contest for the presidency of the NBA by reason of your on going trial. I am also not your hater. My position is the product of my long held and publicly expressed belief which has found fulfilment in the manifestation of a seemingly gagged NBA under Paul Usoro. I wish you could see it as that and nothing more.
Thank you and kindly ignore the incomplete response I earlier inadvertently posted here and substitute it with this one"
The questions for Mr. Steve Abar are numerous but some are:
1. On what grounds did Mr. Steve Abar advise Mr. Paul Usoro SAN not to run, when he had no criminal matter agaisnt him , prior to his electoral victory at the 2018 polls?
2. Why is he recommending to Mr. Ogunlana to shelve his presidential ambition because of his ongoing trial, his undisclosed grounds of advice with which he advised Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, when he had no criminal matter ?
3. What is the basis of equality of capabilities ascribed to all the candidates to warrant Mr. Ogunlana to withdraw from the NBA presidential race?
It is clear as noonday that Mr. Steve Abar' s response is blurry and an attempt to drive emotions up against the presidential aspiration of Mr. Ogunlana. While on one hand , deferring to the doctrine of presumption of innocence , Mr. Abar wants Mr. Ogunlana to halt his presidential aspiration due to his ongoing trial.
Mr. Abar' s school of thought is that elective offices such as the Office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association is a deified office that should not be aspired to by individuals , who are facing any form of trial, inspite of the presumption of innocence against them.
Mr. Abar's conclusion that the ongoing trial of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN led to the current gagged NBA leadership is not only presumptuous but amounts to begging the question. If we may ask, what background does Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, the current NBA President have that now got "gagged" when he entered office! The reality is that , with respect to Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, he is simply not an activist! Even at that, the pinnacle of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN' s anti- government action was the declaration of a national boycott, where were persons such as Mr. Steve Abar at that time?
Now to Mr. Steve Abar's assertion that all the four presidential have "equal capabilities " , let us examine the subject matter critically. Mr. Steve Abar's reference of standing shoulders to shoulders with Ikeja Branch, the Tiger Bar, during their innumerous struggles, does this include the involvement of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN? It is on record that the same Dele Adesina SAN , as Chairman of Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (1998-2000) diswoned his members who were protesting the sale of the Nigerian Law School?
Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN and Mr. Olumide Akpata , both transactional lawyers has never been known for activism and critical social interventions. They can't even pretend to be so! Where then is the equality of capacities among the four?
These are men who have used their skills to make personal fortunes for themselves and are now eyeing top positions in the Nigerian Bar Association in order to project their image for higher aspirations.
The four presidential aspirants are all Lagos-based lawyers, of both Ikeja and Lagos Branches , the two largest Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association. In 2018, when the then Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State sought to impose an horrendous Lagos State Land Use Charge of 500 percent increment, the reaction of the four aspirants were not the same. While the other three sat on the fence, Ogunlana leading the NBA IKeja , without the support of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN, successfully resisted the imposition of the taxes.
Equally, when the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Opeyemi Oke came up with the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018 with its horrendous filing fees and punitive costs, what is the attitude or reaction of these aspirants to that extortionate scheme of the Chief Judge? While three kept quiet, one spoke against it publicly, carried out demonstrations against it via the Citizens' Rally Against Oppression and eventually sought judicial intervention on it? Who is that? Ogunlana Adesina Ademola. Again, what basis is the equality of capabilities?
The reality is that with the grand onslaught on democratic rights under the current regime, the leadership that is required is a fighting leadership. Mr. Steve Abar's wish of not having a " gagged" leadership can only be fully realised if Mr. Ogunlana is entrusted with the prime leadership of the Bar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
